Texas Business News & Economy
Coverage of the Texas economy, jobs, and the companies driving growth across the state — oil and gas, manufacturing, technology, finance, and the corporate relocations bringing capital and headcount to Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.
Last updated: July 2, 2026
What we cover
Energy
Oil and gas, the ERCOT grid, renewables, and Permian production.
Filter →Jobs & Workforce
Hiring trends, wages, and the Texas labor market.
Filter →Relocations
Corporate HQ moves to Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston.
Filter →Real Estate
Commercial development, housing supply, and property taxes.
Filter →Policy
Legislative changes that affect Texas businesses and small employers.
Filter →Latest Texas business coverage
Energy, taxes, jobs, and the policy stories shaping the Texas economy.
The Texas Energy Economy: A Full Overview of Oil, Gas, ERCOT, and the Grid That Powers America
How Texas became the energy capital of North America — Permian crude, Eagle Ford gas, ERCOT reliability, the Railroad Commission, and what the Houston-led oil and gas industry means for the Texas economy.
New Property Tax Relief Package Heads to Floor for Decisive Vote
GOP leaders signal confidence as the historic $18 billion plan reaches final deliberations in the House, promising compression to district maintenance rates.
The 10 Texas Counties with the Highest School Tax Burdens in 2024
Our analysis of TEA filings shows where homeowners are paying the steepest ISD M&O rates.
Permian Basin Production Hits Record as Federal Permitting Threats Loom
West Texas operators warn of EPA overreach even as output climbs to 6.1 million barrels per day.
Why Texas Has No State Income Tax — and What Pays for Government Instead
Texas is one of nine states without an income tax, and the 2019 constitutional amendment makes it nearly impossible to enact one. Here's the sales-tax-and-property-tax model that funds the second-largest state in the union.
Texas Water Rights Explained: Rivers, Aquifers, and the Rule of Capture
Surface water belongs to the state; groundwater belongs to the landowner. How prior appropriation, groundwater conservation districts, and interstate compacts shape every drop.
How Texas Counties Actually Spend Your Money
Sheriff's office, jail operations, road and bridge, district courts, and indigent defense — a breakdown of where every dollar of your county property tax actually goes.
What Local Governments Actually Control in Texas
Counties, cities, ISDs, MUDs, and emergency-services districts each levy their own tax — here's who decides what, and which line on your bill funds which service.
How County Appraisal Districts Work — and Your Rights as a Taxpayer
Inside the CAD: how appraisers set market values, what the Appraisal Review Board does, and the statutory rights every property owner can invoke during protest season.
A Guide to Texas Energy Policy: ERCOT, Oil & Gas, and the Regulators in Charge
How the Railroad Commission, PUC, and ERCOT divide authority over the nation's largest energy economy — and where renewables fit into a grid built on hydrocarbons.
The Texas Property Tax Guide: Appraisals, Caps, and Calculating Your Bill
How Texas property taxes really work — appraisal caps, homestead exemptions, ISD M&O rates, and a step-by-step walkthrough for estimating what you actually owe.
The Texas Grid Explained: ERCOT, Reliability, and Why Independence Still Matters
Why Texas runs its own grid, what the Public Utility Commission actually controls, and the reforms keeping the lights on through summer peaks and winter freezes.